• Senegal recorded a 55.4% labour force participation rate among people aged 15 and above in the third quarter of 2025.

• Youth and women showed significantly lower participation rates than prime-age adults and men.

• Skills mismatches continued to limit youth integration into the labour market, according to development experts.

In 2025, Senegal’s employment structure reflected limited economic participation despite a growing working-age population. The National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD) reported that 55.4% of people aged 15 and older were active in the labour market during the third quarter of 2025. The agency defined active individuals as those holding a job or actively seeking employment.

This overall participation rate concealed significant disparities by age. Among young people aged 15 to 24, participation remained markedly lower, with estimates near 47%. Education enrolment and limited access to stable employment partly explained this lower engagement.

By contrast, adults aged 25 to 54 recorded participation rates that often exceeded 65%. This higher level of integration increased pressure on both formal and informal employment segments, as labour supply continued to outpace job creation.

Senegal also recorded pronounced gender inequalities in labour market participation. Men posted higher activity rates than women, with gaps ranging from 10 to 15 percentage points depending on urban or rural location.

In rural areas, the ANSD reported particularly low female participation. Household responsibilities, education levels, and unequal access to economic opportunities continued to restrict women’s engagement in paid work.

In an analysis published in January 2025 by the daily newspaper Enquête +, international development expert Alioune Ndiaye said Senegal continued to face a major mismatch between vocational training and labour market needs. He said limited alignment between training pathways and in-demand skills, particularly in technical and digital fields, could continue to constrain youth participation in the labour market.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum